Newbie question about drill bits

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Messages 1 - 13 of total 13 in this topic

SLPcaver

Boulder climber

Boise

Topic Author's Original Post - Feb 10, 2016 - 10:32am PT

Hi,
I need to make a 30 ft bolt climb in a cave. I just ordered a Petzl Rockpec but I'm unclear--do I have to use Petzl drill bits or will SDS bits from Home Depot also work?

Thanks much!
Dave in Boise

brotherbbock

Trad climber

Alta Loma, CA

Feb 10, 2016 - 11:01am PT

Before you do any of that, remember to take one thing into account....

YER

GONNA

DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

tolman_paul

Trad climber

Anchorage, AK

Feb 10, 2016 - 11:02am PT

SDS from Home Depot will work. It'll also work better if sharpened a reprofiled for hand drilling.

limpingcrab

Trad climber

the middle of CA

Feb 10, 2016 - 11:35am PT

The bits from Home Depot work, but just keep a backup bit with you since they are made for power drills and have a tendency to break when using a hand drill, especially while learning. Power drills apply force more often but supposedly not as much force as a hammer in your hand.

The Petzl bits, and a few others you can order online, are more reliable for hand drilling.

I've never had a problem with Home Depot bits but a friend broke three with the rocpec this summer before he was told that they are weaker than the other options.

cragnshag

Social climber

san joser

Feb 10, 2016 - 12:55pm PT

Home Despot sells the Bosch SDS bits and they work just fine.

Sounds like you are in for an ab workout.

edit: oh, a bat cave, not a steep climb aka cave.

Gnome Ofthe Diabase

climber

Out Of Bed

Feb 10, 2016 - 01:30pm PT

Ugh!? 4:12 pm, here, nothing to take the edge off, Cosmic, your radar! I thought the same thing. We will give the slpcaver some rope . . .

So slp? What's that?
And if your not the infamous pal of my pal Cosmic - you need to do three things right away,
post up a bunch of real photos of your general self, involved in an active role of doing something roped,
Where's this cave,
what type of rock ,

hey why are jumping into holes in the ground any way?

We are sorry for the third degree but you come off just like a least tolerated person who stalks around here often getting vile as the plot to waste time increases.

If you are that night nurse , hello, goodby, sad, that you still need to get help,

Now about a simple trial and error thing...

and just in case,

I've never placed a bolt. I've tried - in granite - using my old wall hammer ( hickory ? Handle) with drill bits from H. D, and broke three,
Got wicked elbow pain and gave up.

Given the increase in the usability, weight, size sturdiness,
of bolt 'guns', and the better drills , with better hole counts per battery, solar charging options.
etc.

It seems like a battery powered hammer drill is a good investment, and a much faster way to get things done.

Two people can share the rigg & cost, or 'rent' ( take, trade in bits, or work on your project creative bartering ) it out to friends to off set the the expense, have them replace the battery,
Or get a 3rd or 4th one.

couchmaster

climber

Feb 10, 2016 - 01:42pm PT

^^good advice upthread^^ And don't get overenthusiastic in whacking on the drill. Gentle tap, turn 1/8 or so, tap turn tap turn tap turn. Carbide is super tough, but is brittle. Another trick, in addition to having a backup bit, is to have a short wedge anchor or 2 in case you run out of gas or screw up the drill or.....You can still plug the last placement if you need too but haven't drilled it derp enough. (deep)

Have fun!

SLPcaver

Boulder climber

Boise

Topic Author's Reply - Feb 10, 2016 - 02:21pm PT

I study swifts (you know, those fast birds?) that live in huge colonies in huge pit-caves in Mexico. This one cave is a small horizontal cave, but I need to surmount a 30 foot limestone waterfall to get to a ledge they nest on. I free climbed it 30-plus years ago, but it may have changed plus I'm a little heavier and not as spritely as then--thus, think I need to be prepared to bolt it.

Since I have you'all here, make it easy for me and tell me what kind of bolts to get. I don't need to know all about the pros and cons as I'm not about to become a big rock climber (I did a bit long ago, but not really any more). I just need to know a bolt that is good enough for this one 30 foot climb in hopefully pretty solid limestone (and to use 2 or 3 for a rappel anchor once I get to the top).

Thanks much!

Dave (no, not your lurker, just some random bird nerd...)

Gnome Ofthe Diabase

climber

Out Of Bed

Feb 10, 2016 - 02:41pm PT

Excellent,
SLP, my apologies.

I'm going to leave my previous post. I'll yank it if asked of course.

Limestone should be easy ,
make the holes deep, and round,
if you get a bad start stop and start again,
I will let the experts here way in on the right kinds of hardware.